Disclaimer:  Paramount and Viacom own Star Trek, i don't.  What a bummer.
 
 
 
Part I ~ Tom

"Oh, hi:  I didn't see you there.  My name's Thomas Paris, but you can call me Tom.  Have a seat.  Come for the show?  I see my fame is spreading.

"Sorry, but so far she's a no-show.  Don't worry, she'll be here.  They're always here.  Wait a sec, the doors are opening... Bingo!  What did I tell you?  Right on cue.

"What?  You haven't heard the story?  Well I've got some time to spare, so I'll tell you.  You see, right over there a certain couple is about to rendezvous at their usual time.  Not just any couple:  that couple.  The couple on Voyager that is most wagered on, the couple that is the most secretive about their true feelings.  One of these day's they're going to make me rich.  If I can ever get them to reciprocate their feelings, that is.

"See that big guy over there?  Yeah, him, the Indian.  Well excuuuussse me: the Native American.  Anyway, every day, Chakotay enters the mess hall at exactly 0701 hours.  He totes his padd to the bar and orders his usual:  oatmeal, orange juice, and occasionally even tries the course of the morning...  I say occasionally as in rarely.  Chakotay is quite a man of habit, truth be told, and he's almost as finicky an eater as I am, but I'm getting away from the story, now, aren't I?

"So, every day, Voyager's first officer then proceeds to his usual table, sets his tray down, and seats himself, facing so that, ironically enough, were Chakotay able to see through Voyager's bulkheads, he would see where the ship has already been, instead of where it's going.  Tells you a lot about the man.

"Chakotay sometimes tries to eat a bite or two of his oatmeal.  Then he seemingly decides it's too hot, and proceeds to engross himself in his padd.  This entire ritual lasts approximately six minutes.  Around 0707 Voyager's captain makes her appearance.  Captain Janeway approaches the bar with gusto and, unlike her counterpart, orders the morning special and her usual:  coffee, black.

"It doesn't seem to matter whether she likes the dish or not (she rarely eats any); Janeway always orders whatever Neelix is serving.  Whether this is to set an example for the crew, to keep Chakotay and the Doctor off her back about her stress levels and not eating three square meals a day and all that other junk, or if she simply does it for Neelix's sake, I have never figured out.  Anyway, back to the Captain.

"After the Captain orders, she then takes her breakfast, turns to seemingly scan the room, and her eyes fall on her second in command.  She approaches with purpose, stops in front of her still (seemingly) oblivious breakfast companion, and states something along the lines of:

"'Is this seat taken?'  Chakotay, in turn, answers with something like:

"'Of course not, Captain:  please, join me.'  The words vary, but the meaning is always the same.

"So, each morning, Voyager's two senior-most officers spend breakfast together.  As soon as Janeway arrives, Chakotay begins to eat his now cool-enough breakfast, and the conversation begins to get rolling.

"My table has a great view.  Sometimes B'Elanna and Harry join me.  And every once in a while, I meet a lone traveler like you who wants to take a peek.  They're really quite entertaining when you think about it.  Unfortunately, I have no idea what they're saying. The mess hall is simply too loud, and to sit close enough to hear would be to risk discovery.  I'm still working on the problem, though.

"But still, it's fun to watch them together.  These two people are so obviously in love, but they probably wouldn't admit it even if threatened with death.  When it comes to commanding a starship, exploring the unknown, and making first contact with alien cultures, they're fearless.  But when it comes to admitting that they are head over heals in for each other, they're terrified.

"Incidentally, not knowing whether this daily rendezvous is planned on the part of Voyager's captain and first officer, or just started happening by chance, is still a big question:  one that I haven't been able to answer.  (The pool for that is almost as big as the afore mentioned one.)  So instead, I, Tom Paris, spend each morning watching the drama unfold.

"B'Elanna once asked me if I thought that anyone else knew about their little appointments.  I had to answer yes; I have never seen anyone else sitting at the Captain and Commander's table during breakfast.  That alone has to be more than a coincidence.

"Oh, look:  they're leaving early today.  Pity that I can't follow them:  Janeway would bust me down to crewman or maybe even acting ensign if I were caught.  Oh well, the Doctor will want to have this report before my shift starts on the bridge, so I better get back to work.

"You will excuse me, won't you?  Oh, you have to go?  Well, I hope to see you soon.

"Oh, by the way:  you will tell me if you pick up any little tidbits of information, won't you?  Thanks."
 
 
 
Peeping Tom, Shroy Tuvok ~ part ii
more of Star in Void's Star Trek Voyager fanfic